Sex store to open shortly

And the businesswoman behind the operation has promised to meet worried residents who have concerns about the Simply Pleasure store.

A team of workmen has been working at a site in Preston New Road preparing the premises for an opening party.

But one objector to the store, who claimed Blackburn was becoming the "centre of East Lancashire's sex trade", dismissed the move as a publicity stunt.

A licence for the store was granted by Blackburn with Darwen Council last year, despite objections from councillors, businesses and residents living close to the new shop.

The store is one of a chain run by East Lancashire businesswoman Suzanne Winfield, who said anyone with concerns about the store was welcome to meet her in person. "If people would like to come along to see what the store is all about they can put together a formal letter of request," she said.

"Then they can come down outside of shop hours and we would be more than happy to discuss their concerns with them."

Suzanne and her husband David have opened a store in Rochdale and a 3,000 sq ft superstore in Oldham.

Each venue sells underwear, sex toys, videos and DVDs, and the Oldham branch even features its own in-store dungeon.

The company had a turnover of £800,000 last year and the husband-and-wife team insist they are a friendly alternative to other types of sex shops.

Suzanne added: "I think Blackburn with Darwen Council and its officers recognised that there is a need for this establishment, given that the law does allow them.

"Perhaps it was the case that we were an option that could not be refused and that the alternative would have been something very unsavoury indeed."

But the chairman of Lancashire Council of Mosques, Ibrahim Masters, who also opposed the licence application, said he saw little point in a meeting.

"The licence has been granted so I don't see what benefit anyone who was opposed to it could get from a meeting," he said.

"It would only give extra publicity to the people who own the store."